Election Wrap

The voters have spoken…the verdict is in. The President is toast. Well, maybe---maybe not.

Turnover in the House is the largest in over 60 years… But, this election was the third in a row that has swung that body by twenty or more. Polling of voters has indicated that dissatisfaction is widespread for both parties. Voters want action---change. But will voters support a candidate who says he’ll start with a 50 cent per gallon levy on gas along with other tax increases, import duties on cheap consumer goods, significant cuts in defense spending, plus an end to farm subsidies and tax deduction for mortgage interest? Such a program would eliminate the deficit, ease our balance of payment woes and start us on the road to energy independence. This is the kind of program that our government advocates for other countries in economic and financial distress. It’s also the program that we voters condescendingly prescribe for them! Oh, but now we run back to “American Exceptionalism”. We are special; we don’t have to be responsible.

Republicans berate the healthcare bill, as they would, but it covers 32 million additional Americans, while decreasing the deficit, creating competitive insurance markets, restricting insurance companies’ prerogative to drop customers or increase their premiums, beginning to pay doctors for quality care instead of quantity, and ratcheting back private-plan abuses.

The 111^th Congress has been one of the most productive in recent history. Beyond healthcare, in less than two years we’ve seen significant work on stimulus packages, congressional ethics reform, significant financial service industry regulation, 75,000 infrastructure projects, massive investments in renewable energy sources, “race to the top” (to replace “No Child…,”) “national service” legislation, expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover 4 million more kids, new regulations on tobacco, 2 million acres of wilderness lands restored to federal protection, expanded benefits for veterans, minimum wage increase, environmental issues and much more, all in the face of recalcitrant, Republican obstructionism. There are currently over 400 bills passed by the house, awaiting Senate review.

This is not to say that all of these measures are good for the nation; but more than any Congress in decades, this has been an action Congress.

So what’s to complain about? Well the Republicans are crying because they’re not in control. The hushed truth is that many Americans could never be content with a black president. Being a Democrat seals Obama’s fate. The GOP’s only real agenda is to prevent the country from moving toward prosperity while Democrats are in control.

Liberals are unsettled because of lack of resolution on big-ticket items: the wars are still raging, even expanding into Pakistan; Gitmo is still operating, no formal censure of the Bush Administration---or even repudiation of torture, for that matter. The Healthcare bill did not contain a “public option.” Financial service reform was late and seriously diluted. Military budgets continue to grow, along with the deficit.

And all are disturbed over persistence of the recession. Well, there have been no significant, structural changes to promote the kind of changes that will eventually put the country onto a strong economic footing.

A significant part of the problem is polarization of the electorate. We are the farthest apart, politically, in modern times. Everyone is drained and fed up with partisan bickering. But as we demand compromise, we all see ourselves as “the center”. Compromise means coming my way!

It’s impossible to deflect blame from Obama. He may be working hard, but he’s definitely not connecting with the people. Our “ship” of state is foundering after hitting an iceberg. Fortunately [and unlike the Titanic,] since hitting the last iceberg (the great depression) we have institutional mechanisms that keep us afloat While the ship is listing and taking on water, the captain is working extremely hard with the 750-man crew.

But the crew is below decks. No one is addressing the 2500 passengers, running in a panic all over the ship. These frightened people want to SEE the captain, working, leading, fighting! They want re-assurance, visible leadership. To us, what’s going on below decks is irrelevant. All we know is the economy is still sluggish, our jobs are still gone or threatened. The “change” promised by candidate Obama has not come to pass.

When the Republicans promise to dismantle the progress made in the last two years and destroy the president, citizens don’t want a “cool” response, a promise to work together with “our opponents” toward a resolution of the crisis. Americans expect dynamic, aggressive leadership. They believe that if the man won’t fight to defend himself and his office, he won’t fight to defend them. It appears that Obama, a black man running for national office, trained himself never to appear angry. This extends to public displays of frustration. This doesn’t resonate with the American people. We expect passion, verve, heart! One needs only watch television for about 20 minutes on any evening to experience what the public expects! Our heroes deliver action---violence!

So what do incoming Republicans offer? Anti-government rhetoric works well as an electoral strategy---it stokes contingency frustration and validates fears. But as a governing strategy, it has no traction. Ronald Reagan, that icon of Republican conservatism, used “conservative” rhetoric to salve the base while heaping massive increases onto government spending. “W” did the same.

In 1994, Newt Gingrich made the mistake of trying to implement Republican rhetoric with the “Contract with America.” He ran into the Clinton Administration and the will of the American people. Clinton balanced the budget, riding the “tech” wave with a small tax increase and a significant reduction in defense spending. Meanwhile “Contract” went on the rocks and Newt was soon thrown out of government.

In broad terms, Americans prefer Republican appeals on behalf of liberty and small business over Democratic appeals to fairness and compassion. But in practice, the preferences get reversed. Democratic social programs retain widespread popular support while conservative cuts in these programs provoke antagonism. Hence, while conservatives love to talk philosophy, you can’t get them to discuss programs; and while it’s difficult for the Dems to connect their policies to their beliefs, it’s near impossible for Republicans to follow through on their ideas.

For a generation the Rep’s have tapped voter selfishness by using the clarion call of “lower taxes.” But complicating matters now is the new contingent of Tea Party rabble that seems intent on Republican ideology enough to hold their feet to the fire of rhetoric that politicians know is only a bunch of hot air. The new congressional delegation insists that there will be no compromise with their ideals. Things could get interesting! Stay tuned.